Traveling to France during Covid-19: What you need to know before you go
CNN Staff
If you’re planning to travel to France, here’s what you’ll need to know and expect if you want to visit during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The basics
There are no current Covid-related restrictions on international travel to France, although the country has had some of the most stringent Covid-19 restrictions in the world, including three lockdowns. While a few safety measures remain in place, the vast majority of restrictions have been eased.
What’s on offer
The historic boulevards of Paris, the fashionable sweep of La Croisette in Cannes and the rolling lavender fields and vineyards of Provence. France remains one of the world’s most enduring tourist destinations.
With superb food, even better wine and landscapes and cities to satisfy every kind of traveler, it never disappoints.
Who can go
As of August 1, there are no Covid-19 related travel restrictions for France. This means travelers are no longer required to present proof of vaccination, complete a sworn statement before arrival or show proof of a negative PCR or antigen test, regardless of their vaccination status.
The same rules apply for travel between mainland France and French overseas territories.
“Faced with the new phase of the pandemic, the border health control system is lifted, in accordance with the law putting an end to the exceptional regimes created to fight against the epidemic linked to Covid-19,” reads a statement from the French Ministry of the Interior and Overseas.
“The government retains until 21 January 2023 the possibility of activating ’emergency brake’ measures for a maximum period of two months, after consulting the high authority for health in the event of an appearance and circulation of a new variant of Covid-19 likely to constitute a serious health threat or, in overseas territories, in the event of a risk of saturation of the health system.”
What are the restrictions?
As stated above, there are currently no Covid-19 related restrictions on international travel to France.
What’s the Covid situation?
France has been one of the hardest hit countries in Europe, with over 37 million cases and 158,034 deaths as of November 2.
The emergence of the Omicron variant towards the end of 2021 brought about yet another rise in infections, with over 2.5 million infections recorded in one week towards the end of January 2022. The number of Covid-19 cases in the country would later stabilize. However, Covid-19 infections have been on the increase yet again.
There were 147,123 cases in the week leading up to November 2. Over 83.6% of the population is fully vaccinated.
What can visitors expect?
Masks or face coverings are no longer compulsory indoors or on public transport. However, officials have advised people to start wearing masks in crowded spaces once again due to rising Covid-19 cases in the country.
Since March, a vaccine pass has no longer been required to enter indoor venues, aside from hospitals and care homes.
Useful links
French government official site
Advice for foreign nationals planning trips to France
Our latest coverage
Find out why Paris looks set to introduce its first urban cable car system and how feminist street art is becoming commonplace around Paris.
In other developments, the European country has passed a law protecting the “sensory heritage” of its rural areas, and its future for sleeper trains looks bright. Want to know what it feels like to try to become French? CNN’s Channon Hodge gave it a go back in 2008.
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Joe Minihane, Julia Buckley and Tamara Hardingham-Gill contributed to this report
